Traintronics TT300 Digital Point Motor

The Traintronics TT300 was developed by Traintronics in Bournemouth, UK.

Features:

• Compact, self contained

• DC or DCC

• Built-in DCC decoder

• NMRA compatible; Addresses from 1 to 2044; supports programming track or PoM; All NMRA programming modes supported.

• Suitable for scales Z-gauge to O-gauge

• Easy installation (2 screws)

• No mechanical adjustment required

• Moderate holding force at end of travel (suitable for non-latching and latching points)

• Slow motion

• No soldering needed

• Built-in switching for frogs

• Route setting using secondary addresses

• Remote push-button control as well as DCC control

• Low current consumption (<100mA when driving and <10mA at idle)

• Outputs for indicator panel lights

Dimensions:

• Length: 82mm

• Width: 32mm

• Depth: 41mm (from base board to bottom of motor which protrudes from the black plastic case)

The Traintronics TT300 Digital Point Motor sells for £18.95

Setting it up couldn't be easier. Simply connect the TT300 Digital Point Motor to the programming track and assign a value to CV1. This is the point motor address. Then using your DCC controller set up the point at that address in the usual way. You can add the point to a route or switch it individually as required.

So how does this product stack up against other available solutions?

A similar concept to the Traintronics TT300 Digital Point Motor is the Viessmann 4554 switch motor that also incorporates an accessory decoder and can be used on DC or DCC layouts ( as well as Märklin / Motorola, NMRA-DCC und Märklin Systems). The Viessmann 4554 switch motor sits above the baseboards next to the point and would work with modern layouts as it resembles a modern switch box. It wouldn't really work for classic layouts unless you somehow hid the mechanism. The manufacturer price for the Viessmann 4554 switch motor is £32.59.

And how does the price work out with the built-in DCC decoder compared to conventional point motors and an external accessory decoder?

The Tillig 86112 is a standard point slow-action motor. The manufacturer price for the Tillig 86112 is £13.81.

The Lenz LS150 is a common DCC decoder with 6 outputs. The manufacturer price for the Lenz LS150 is £40.99.

So you may think that a built-in decoder might me an expensive option. The table above shows that Traintronics TT300 Digital Point Motor is a cheaper option even for 6 point motors, but it is much cheaper if you only need a few points.

Conclusion

• Reasonable price, good value.

• Solid construction, good connectors and sturdy.

• The pin is quite thick. If you have a fine point such as the Tillig points, you will have to enlarge the hole in the point throw-bar and perhaps reinforce it. Even Peco points may have to have the hole enlarged a little.

• The TT300 Digital Point Motor is quite deep and although will be fine in most cases, may be too thick if used on multi-layered layouts.

• The TT300 Digital Point Motor has a neat feature that keeps a gentle and constant pressure in the right direction at all times. Even if you force the pin the other way, it re-engages and moves the pin back to the correct side. Where other point motors like the Tillig or Flugerex motors hold the blades firmly to one side or the other, this system will allow a little flexibility which could prevent damage to the point blades. I had switched a Tillig controlled point by mistake when a train was over the points and the point broke due to the force of the motor pushing against the open blades.

• For addressing above address 255, CV9 has to be used in conjunction with CV1. See the manual for how to do that.

• Basic route selection can be programmed via CVs if your DCC command station doesn't support routes.

• The remote control feature is quite nice. It allows you to have a little push-button switch, say on the side of the layout near the point, where you can switch the point locally. Pressing the button will throw the point to the opposite state of where it is.

• The included basic manual is reasonable. It would be nicer to see a better quality pamphlet with better photos. The advance section is not included. It is linked to below. Print that out and the full function of the point motor can be seen.

The full installation instruction and operation manual for the can be seen on the Bromsgrove models site, here.

Many thanks to Ontracks for this review sample. Ontracks distribute the Traintronics TT300 Digital Point Motor.

Doug Teggin

July 2010